UPDATED Gov. Pat McCrory was at GOP ground zero in Cleveland this weekend but not for the Republican National Convention, which began Monday. He attended a fundraiser hosted by friends on Friday night, his campaign spokesman said Monday.

Afterward, McCrory spoke to the Council for National Policy, a private organization that promotes limited government, traditional values and a strong military. The Council for National Policy has been described as an organization of influential conservatives who meet periodically to plan future political strategies and financing behind closed doors.

At the event, conservative activist Ralph Reed and his wife, Jo Anne Reed, tweeted photographs of themselves posing with McCrory.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also spoke at the event, which was not open to the public, at a different time than McCrory. Cruz, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for president, is scheduled to speak during the convention.

Ford Porter, spokesman for the N.C. Democratic Party, said the organization was comprised of “far-right anti-LGBT activists and mega donors.” McCrory campaign spokesman said the governor was focused on recent positive economic indicators for North Carolina, “much to the dismay of Roy Cooper and the Democrats, who have made it clear they want North Carolina to fail.”

On Saturday, McCrory went to Iowa for a National Governors Association meeting, where he was reappointed to the group’s Executive Committee and chosen to serve on an economic development committee. The Executive Committee, comprised of nine members, supervises the NGA’s operations and has authority over policy issues.

McCrory is back in North Carolina this week.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr was scheduled to attend a private, invitation-only fundraiser 20 miles up the road from Cleveland on Monday sponsored by No Greater Sacrifice, an organization helping the children of fallen and wounded service members pursue higher education.

Tickets to the event at a golf club in Willoughby, Ohio ranged from $5,000 to $100,000. Sponsoring corporations include Duke Energy, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and T-Mobile. Burr was one of 17 politicians, celebrities and others who were listed as honorary hosts.